Door elevating device



4 Sheets-Shag?, 1

rA l' CHQL UTE March 12, 1935.l c. LUTE DOOR ELEVATNG DEVICE Filed March 14, 1951 March 12, 1935. C? UTE 1,994,138

DOOR ELEVAT ING DEVI CE YFiled March 14, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,1f/v VEA/T0@- CHE; L UTE Maw TTX

March 12, 1935. c. I UTE DOOR ELEVATING DEVICE Filed March 14, 1951 I I g l l --r-Vr Patented Mar. 12, 1935 UNITED STATESL means? Mfr 1,994,138 Doon ELnvA'rlNe DEVICE larl Lute, Hammond,- Ind.,` lassignor` to `Camel Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application Mal-c1114, 1931, Serial No. 522,608.j 'n V` i lU vices, including operating bars,V which may beA rapidly assembled with the door, the devices permitting assembly and Yreplacement of said bars without removing the doors from the car.

Another object of the invention is the provision h of an elevating construction designed so that the moving parts thereof may be replaced without the necessity'of removing the door from the car.

This invention also has for an object the provision of lift devices for asliding door by means of which theV door is biased toward closingposition during the lowering movement of the door.

'Other objects and advantages of lifting devices of thisl invention will become apparent from a consideration of the description thereof andthe 2" drawings forming part of the specification.

In the drawings i y Figure l is a partial elevation of a car door to which the preferred embodiment" of the invention is applied. 3i" Figure 2 is a section taken online 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view talen on line 4-4 35' of Figure l.l A

Figure 5 is a sectionalview taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation showing a mw rriodii'led lift mechanism.

of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8---8y Figure 9 is a detail of a roller housing.

`Figure 1Y0 is a sectional view taken on line 10--10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a partial elevation showing a further modication of the lift mechanism, the door being illustrated in lowered position.

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11, the door being shown in elevated position.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Figure 11. y Figure 14 is a horizontal section taken on line 55 14-14 'of Figure 11.

Figure 'Yiis a sectional View taken on line '7 7` Figure 15 is an enlarged' elevationof thelower right hand corner of the door, illustrating another modification of the invention.

Figure 16 is a vsectional 'view taken Ion line 16-16 of Figure 15. 1 5

In the considerationof the'jdoors to which the various forms of the invention'are applied itv maybe consideredthatthe door s shown in Fig ures 1 and'G are vbox car doors or .the main door of the double doors customarily employed on autofl 10 mobile cars; lIneither View of this consideration it is observed that'V these doors in their closing movement move toward the left as viewed'in"41i'gV ures 1 and 6. The doors illustrated i'n'Figur'es` 1'1v and 14 maybe considered as box car d'ors or'. 15 as the' `auXilia-ry door ofV a double' door cor'isftrlicf` tion usually employed on automobile carslj These doors in` their closing'movement move toward the right as viewed in Figures 11V and 14. The rea# son for this consideration of the doors will become apparent hereinafter. y y ff Referring nowto the embodiment ofthe in-f vention illustrated 'in Figures l to 5,v inclusivef there is shown a metallic door 10 provided with" a plurality of horizontal' corrugations 11411 and marginal vertical corrugations 12-12. The door shown in these gures 'is `for the purpose of il-- lustration only andthe invention applied v to the door is not limited to the particular construetionnoted above but may be employed as readily with doors of anytype.` Secured tof the lower marginal portion'of the door is a'n angle bar 13f which, in the normal or loweredposition ofthe door, isadapte'd to `have frictional engagement with aimer 14 secure@ to the side siii, (not 35" shown) of the 'car by means of a plurality of,` brackets 15, one 'of which is illustratedin part in Figure 2 of the drawings; lThe trackmember of the present embodiment takes the form of l an angle bar having one of its legs 16 Ypositioned 40 in a horizontal plane and by which itis secured'v to the brabket'members 15 by means of rivets 17. This horizontal leg constitutes as Well the tread of the track. The other leg 18 of the track de-f, pends from the horizontal leg 16 and serves 'as a reinforcing means and, additionally, for a pur-1 pose hereinafter set forth. v g In order to move the door toward open lor closed position it is essential that the door be elevated, thereby being released from its frictional engagementwith the track. For. the accomplishment of this `result therefis disclosed'a plurality of hangers vindicated generally Vby the Yreference numeral 19A, one of which islsecured ad# jacent each of the lowerc'orners of the door. 55"

These hangers are preferablyidentical in construction, thereby avoiding the construction of right and left hangers.

Each hanger 19 comprises a body portion 20 which is fastened to the door by means of a plurality of rivets 21-21 extending through attaching anges 22 formed on said body portion. Y The body portion is also provided with a horizontal flange `23 and spaced vertical flanges 24-24, these flanges extending substantially at right angles to the door. Extending outwardly from each of said vertically extending flanges is a lobe 25 and extending inwardly from each of said anges adjacent the upper portions thereof is a projection 26. A cover member 27 is provided with outwardly extending lobes 28 'coextensive with the lobes 25 formed on the vertical flanges 24-24 of the body member. The cover member is adapted to be secured preferably by Vriveting to the body member the rivets extending through aligned openings in the pairs of lobes provided on said members and through aligned openings provided in said'cover member` and in the projections 26 formed on the flanges 24-24. Each of the vertical flanges 24 of the body member is provided with a substantially angular slotr29,the

contour'of Vwhich is completed by means of the cover member. These slots in the hanger or bracket members 19 are alignedV for a purpose hereinafter indicated. The body member 20 is provided with an opening 30 while the cover member 27 is provided with a bearing 31 positioned oppositely from said opening formed in the body member. The cover member extends downwardly below the track 14 and is provided with an upwardly extending flange 32 adapted for engagement with the depending leg 18 of the track in order to prevent disengagement Yof the lower portion of the door from the track.

' yIt will be noted that the association of the body member 20 and the cover member 27 provides a compartment in which a roller 33 is adapted to be positioned. The roller 33 is mounted in a housing member 34 and is positioned in engagement with the track 14. To permit such engagement the reinforcing angle bar 13' is coped out as indicated at 35. The housing member 34 is clearly illustrated in greater detail in Figures 9 and 10 ofthe drawings. It constitutes side members 36-36 connected together by means of a wall W. These `side members 36-36 are openv along their lower margins in order to permit the roller 33 to extend therethrough. One of the side walls is provided with an opening 37 `while inl the other side wall an'embossment 38 is formed in alignment with the openingY 37. The embossment, together with the opening constitute aligned bearings adapted torreceive a pin 39 upon which the roller 33 is rotatably mounted. Extending outwardly from the side walls 36 in eccentric relation therewith is a plurality of trunnions 40-40 and extendingY upwardly from said housing memberis a projection 41. In the assembly of said roller'housing and its roller with the body andkcover members of the hangers or brackets the trunnions 40-40 are journaled in the bearings 30--31 provided in the body member 20 and in the cover member 27 respectively. It will be apparent from this assembly that the housing member 34 is pivoted eccentrically in the brackets.

An operating bar 42 is employed to effect movement of said roller housings. This operating bar is adapted to extend through theV aligned slots 29 formed in the hanger or bracket members. The

operating bar 42 in the present embodimentl of the invention takes the form of an angle member. The horizontal leg of this member is coped out as indicated at 43 adjacent each end thereof and through these coped portions the projections 4l of the housing members 34 are adapted to extend. Secured to the operating bar is an abutment member 44. Mounted on the door adjacent `4S. This lever 48 is formed at its lower end with a nose portion 49jadapted to have engagement with the abutment member44 fastened on ther operating bar. The operating lever 48 extends upwardly above the boss 47 and lies vin anginclined position. A strap 50, preferably of arcul ate form, is secured to the door as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings., The o'perating lever 48 is provided with a ,downwardly extending nger 5l spaced from the rearsidefof said lever and engaging behind the strap member 50. A hand grip portion Y52 is provided at' the upper end of saidlever.` The strap member 50 is provided with stops 53 and 54 Vfor limiting the movement of the lever. Y Y

A modification of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings.V In this modification the body portion 60 ofthe bracket or hanger members is rigidly secured-to the door and a separate Acap member 6l covering the'up'per portion of said body member is also fastened to the door. The body member in this modification Y Y is provided with a depending portion 62 provided with an upwardly extending flange F adaptedfto have engagement with the vertically extending.A

leg 18 of the track member 14. Theroller housing member 34 is adapted to be journaled in bearings 63 and 64 provided in said body member 60.

It will be noted that the cap member is of 'much smaller extent than the cover member illustrated assembled `on `the Ydoor provide, together; ianv angular slot 65 through which the operating bar 42 isV adapted to extend. As'in the previous embodiment considered the housing member 34 is provided with an'upwardly extending projection Y 4l adapted to extend through'a corresponding coped portion 43y formedlin the operating bar.

in Figures l to. 5, inclusive, of the drawings andY v that the body memberand cap'member when the horizontal leg at each end of the bar as'indicated at 66 in Figure 8 of the drawings l Referring now to the modification of the inventicn shown in Figures 1l to 14, inclusive, there indicated in Figure 14 of the drawings. Anv operating bar 72 in the form of a channel member. Y extends through aligned slots 73 inthe coverV Vportions 71. The lower horizontal ange of the channel operating bar 72 is coped out'adjacent 55 Y It will be noted that in each of the embodiments considered the cover member orthe cap member Y may be removed from the door withoutv the' necessity of disturbing thej position of tl'iebodyI negarse each enst` and extending `througrifsaid coped. portions are the projections 74.V of. the housing mem.- bers'.. The upper yhorizontal flange. of the bar 7-22 iscoped out asfindicated, at .'76 and the. nose 'Z'l of an operatinglever 78' is adapted. to be positioned. within. said coped out portion. This operating lever F18 ispivotally mounted on the door by means ofla boss 79 formed on a bracket member 80l secured `to said door. A strap member .81 isladapted to embrace said level'` and offset portions 82' and` 83 formed on said strap memberv scrive as vstops or abutment members to limitthe movement' of .said operating lever. It will` be observed: that in this embodiment the projection 74 formed on the housing member 751s positioned in substantial alignment with the outer.l face of said housing member. In .this construction. engagement between the track 84 and the upwardly extending. flange 85 on thefbody portion 71 is effected'. As clearly indicated in Figure 14t it is noted that the housing member is pivotally supported. byl means' of the trunnions 86;.and' 87y in bearing members 88V and 89'formed, respectively, in.` the backing plate and in the body portion.

It may be found desirablev in certain instances to effect greater surface' engagement between, the hangers or bra'cketsandn thev track Vin order to prevent theA door from'becoming disengaged from the track.l TheY embodiment illustrated in Figures 15 and 16` of thedrawings provides a construction whereby this may beY obtained. Itl is noted that thebracket or hanger, 90 is provided with a downwardly extending portion carrying an.` upwardly extending ange 91V having engagei ment with the depending, flange 92 'of the track 93. Inl addition to this`r engagement thehousing member 94,is also provided with an upwardly extending flange 95 having engagement with thev depending flange 92 of the track. By this constructionitl will be apparent that substantial engagement betweenV :the upturned langeA 95v formedv on the housing member 94 will always be maintained inasmuch as said housing member has only limited pivotal movement relative to the track.

It is believed that theoperation of the embodiments Vof the invention hereinbefore vdescribed will be' readily apparent. In each of the embodiments it will be clear that a downward pull n uponthe operating lever will resultpin horizontal movement of the operating bar. This movement of the bar,because of the engagement between the upwardly extendingv projections formed on the roller housing membersjand the bar, will in turn be imparted to said rollerhousing members.

Ijriasmuch as the roller vhousing members areV journaled in the hanger or bracket members the housings will` tend to rotate' relativeV thereto. However; since the housing membersare jour- .naled or pivoted in'said hanger or bracket members ineccentric relation-thereto; and inasmuch as therollers mounted in said housing members are in engagement with the tracks, saidhousing memberswill be fulcrumed upon the rollers and rotation of said Vmembers upon said rollers will eiect an elevating movementV of said'housing members-where they are journaled in thehanger out. the necessity ofY removing ther car-from its. track., .Itis apparentthat by removal oftlierivets` which secure the cover` member to the body member the operating bar as well asr the roller housing with its roller become readily available. i

and may be easily removed` Inthe embodiment of: the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, the Vremoval rof the capy member 61 will lat o nce expose the operating bar 42` so that it may beV removed if necessary. This clearly may be accomplished without disturbing the remainder ofthe; hanger construction and without removal of the door from the car. In the construction shown in .Figures 11 to 14, inclusive, removal of the operating bar maybe effectedwithout removal of thedoor from the car by simply jacking up the door relativeto the track. As thedoor isthuswelevated the operating bar may bemoved horizontally until it is disengaged from the upwardlyextending projections, whereby said bar maybe slid out fromy the hangers through theslots provided' therein. In the construction shown in Figures 15 and 16 it is evident that greater gripping engagement between the hangers or bracket membersand the track is eieoted.` It is apparent fromv aconsideration of the movevment ofthe'roller housing members in theelevat@ ping engagement betweensaidhousing members and thetiack in the lowered position of the door4 will provide greatly increased security against all possible displacement of the door from the track.

` Attention is`.invited to the Vfact that in the door shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, which represent-sa box-car door or the main door of a'double door construction for anautomobile car, and which in its closing movement travels toward the left as viewed in Figure. 1 the connection between the' roller housing membersand vthe bracket or hanger members Vis positioned' to theY left oft thev Dins upon which the rollers are mounted. Simi'- larly the door shown in Figures 1l and 12 of the drawings, which maybe considered. a box car door or an auxiliary door of adoubleidoor construction for automobile cars and which as viewed in 'these ngures' movesttoward the right toward closed `position, theconnection between the roller housings and the. hanger or' bracket members is positioned to, the'rightof the pins upon which the rollers are'. mounted. Inview of the relationship noted above there is effected during the lowering movement-of the doora movement of translation of the door toward its closed position. This effectis very desirable inasmuch as because of the action indicated above it is possible to eliminate closing n is'manifest that numerous modifications `andl sof.

changes in the Vdetails of the embodiments of the.

invention disclosed may be made without depart-` ingV from the spiritof said invention. It is intended that all such changes and modifications are c'onprehended within the invention, lwhich isto be limited onlyby the scope ofi the' claims appended hereto.

I claim: f 1. In combination, a sliding door, a track, means establishing frictional engagement between said door and said track to prevent sliding movement of said door in its lowered position, a plurality of brackets vsecured to said door, aligned bearings formed-.on each of said brackets, a roller housing provided with eccentric trunnions positioned in each-of. said brackets with said trunnions journaled. in' said bearings, rollers carriedV by said housings, saidrollers adapted to have rolling engagement with'said track and means including a substantially horizontally movable unitary member for imparting movement in the same direc tion to said'roller housings to elevate said door,

said rollers serving as fulcrums during said elevating movement. Y`

2.. In combination, a sliding door, a track, said door in its lowered position frictionally engagingsaid track, a plurality of .brackets secured to said doorya roller housing pivoted. eccentrically in each' of said brackets, a roller mounted in each of said housings in engagement with said track, a horizontally movable operating bar, an opening provided in said bar adjacent eachof said rollerhousings, a lobe provided on each housing eX- tending'through a contiguous opening andmeans for moving said bar to elevate said door.

3. The combination withV a sliding door provided with a vertical outwardly extending corrugation adjacent each margin of the door and a track with which said door is adapted to have frictional engagement inits Vnormal position, of means for`- elevating said door, comprising brackets secured toV said door, a roller housing pivoted eccentrically in'each of said brackets, a roller mounted in each of said housings in rolling engagement with said track, a horizontally movable operating'bar for imparting movement to said roller housings, said brackets being provided with aligned openings disposed forwardly of said vertical corrugations, whereby said bar` may be assembled with saidbrackets and housingsby sliding movement through said bracket openings after said brackets and housings have been assembled with the door.Y

4. In combination, a sliding door, a track positioned below said door provided with a depending flange, said door in its normal position adapted to have'frictionalsupport upon -said track, a plurality of roller housings pivoted eccentrically on said door, each of said housings being provided with a depending portion having an upwardly extending flange adapted to, coact with the. Ydepending flange of said track to prevent outward displacement ofthe lower portion of said door, a roller mounted in each of rsaid housingsand adapted to have rolling engagement with .said track and means for `imparting movement of rotation to said roller housings to elevate the door. A Y j Y5.- In combination, a slidingdoor, a track, said track having a depending `iiange, said door in its normal position adapted to have frictional engageinent with'the' track, a plurality of brackets secured to said door, each of said brackets being ingsV being adaptedto interengage withthe depending flange of said'track and means forgimparting movement to said roller housings forthe.

purpose set forth.

` 6. In combination, a sliding door, atra'ck, vsaid door in its lowered position beingfrictionally ref;

tained against sliding movement by said track a; 'Y pair of'brackets secured'tosaid dooigrollerhouse.A 1

ingsv pivoted eccentrically in said brackets, Ameans for mounting a roller in each of saidhousingsin engagement with said track, said rollersmountei ings being horizontallyoffset from their `respec. tive housing pivots and means for imparting si-'sl multaneous movement of'rotation in the samedi@A rection to said' roller housingsabout said: rollers.

as fulcrums, including abar movable substantially.

`horizontally in a single direction Vand engageable. withsaid housingsabove the roller. mountingv meansl..

7.y Infa door elevating device for railway cars,

in combination,a plurality of.Y brackets, eachof said brackets. comprising av main .body .portion adapted to be rigidly secured to a car door, said-1 body portion being open, anda cover portion for insaidv bracketsiand engaging saidroller Vmechanisms, said=securing means being positionedout-vA wardly in spaced relation to `said door wherebyV it is accessible for removing said cover plate whilevv said door is mounted'upon a railway 8. In a door elevating device for'railway cars;V in combination, a. plurality of brackets, .each of said brackets Vcomprising amainibodyfportion' adapted to ybe rigidly secured to'a. car door, said body portionsfbeing'partly open, 'roller mecha@l nisms positioned .in said brackets,.an operating:V

bary for .said roller mechanismshaving portionsv j lying inthe openingsin saidim'ainbody portions,

cover plates. for said body portions, means secur'- 9. In combination, a sliding doorga track, said.' door in its lower position having frictionalengagement withr said track; a plurality of roller housings pivotally mounted on saidVv door, rollers;

means for mounting a roller in each of saidhous-f ings in oiTset relationship to said `'pivotal mount-V ing and in engagement -with's'aid track, an operating bar carried by saidgdoor, said bar'being movable substantially horizontal inv a single di;` y

rection to engage saidroller housings for imparting rotation thereto ab'outsaid rollers as fulcrums,

whereby an elevating-.force will be' exerted upon said door atthelpivotal mo'untingsv between said.

housings andsaid door.y -Y

10. A hanger for car doors comprising' a m'ain. vbody portion vadapted to be rigidly securedto acari door, said body lportionhaving outwardly extend-Y ing flanges forming a pocket,froller 'mechanisrnY positioned insaid pocket in exposedlposition, a.

separatey cover. portion,f and means securingsaid, Y

cover portion to'said anges of saidv mainvbody'l portion for covering 'said rollerV mechanism, said means being disposed. in spaced relatiozrto 'said door, whereby said securing meansand said cover' portion may be removed while said `door is mount;

ed upon a car to expose said roller mechanism. i f Y ',CAKRL LUTE; 

